Herbert to make BTCC debut with one eye on NASCAR

Three-time grand prix winner Johnny Herbert will contest the final three rounds of this year’s British Touring Car Championship with the Dynamics Honda team.

Herbert, who has most recently raced in the Speedcar stock car series in Asia and the Middle East, was due to make his tin-top debut at Silverstone at the end of August and will also contest the BTCC rounds at Rockingham and Brands Hatch. The deal comes after Herbert sampled the Dynamics Civic at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July and then drove it in anger at Rockingham the following month.

Herbert, 45, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the Super 2000-spec car. “Now I just need to get the last bit out of it,” he added. Herbert also revealed that he is targeting a move into NASCAR for 2010 in the wake of his Speedcar success. He won the title in 2007/08 and was runner-up last season.